What to do with backyard pests?

[MattB4]

Just glanced out the glass door and seen these garden wreckers. (see photo) I did the usual yelling and made threats of calling law enforcement. But other than a twitched ear, tails and a few snorts they ignored me and continued to browse the back lawn.

I am afraid to go too much further because they might be armed. I have seen the statistics of how many people lose their lives to these raiders each year and it is enough to make a person cautious. What should I do?

[BUSHER]

move to a deer free city right away

[bilmac]

Yappy dog???

I watched some deer in a yard once. There was a board property boundary fence between yards. One of the old does walked up to the fence and found a hole and got the neighbors dog all upset and barking furiously. The deer paid no attention, except when the dog quieted down a deer would go to the fence and TEASE it again. Finally somebody from the house opened the door and yelled at the dog. Poor dog, just doing his duty.

[MattB4]

How big of a city is needed to be safe? I have heard tell that in some cities organized gangs of deer terrorize the populous. At least out where I am at the deer do not wear gang colors or deal in drugs.

[BUSHER]

you gotta get to the mOON!

[MattB4]

I asked the dog to deal with it but he was not interested. He just sat there.

[toobboy]

A local gardener has had good success with tiger urine. I believe it is a synthetic concoction. good results have also come from small containers full of bleach. A chest freezer could be a good investment.....

[Bradlyallen1]

Electric fence with tin foil filled with peanut butter hanging off of it with metal hangers. They learn pretty quick to stay away.

[MattB4]

Originally Posted by Bradlyallen1

Electric fence with tin foil filled with peanut butter hanging off of it with metal hangers. They learn pretty quick to stay away.

Tin foil is good for something other than head wear? Learn something new every day.

ETA. I am not sure about grabbing onto a electric fence. When I used to do that as a young boy I would get yelled at by my parents.

[chris1162]

pass a law making it illegal for deer to be in your yard. that will show them. or eat them!!!

[MattB4]

A deer ban? If deer are illegal than only illegals will have deer. You can have my Buck when you can pry it from my cold dead hands. Perhaps we should simply limit the capacity of deer. No more than 10 deer per yard.

I tried a no deer zone last year in my garden but it did not reduce vegetable loss. You would think they would read the signs.

[larryp]

Crossbow or bow and arrow for quiet elimination of those dangerous raiders!

[Prudence]

Just don't try to rope them!

http://www.snopes.com/critters/farce/ropedeer.asp

(Read the whole thing.)

[jodier7]

At that distance, a recurve would make fats work of them, though you would probably have one shot.

[MattB4]

Originally Posted by Prudence

Just don't try to rope them!

http://www.snopes.com/critters/farce/ropedeer.asp

(Read the whole thing.)

Thanks for the Holiday story. I have no problem in believing it. The only part that smacks of made up is referring to horses and cows as being relatively harmless. I am here to tell you that horses are the most evil critter there is.

We had a pony when I was a child that was called Pokey. There was nothing slow about that pony. It used to lay in wait for the afternoon school bus bringing us younger kids home. As soon as the bus pulled away, so that it knew it had it at its mercy, it would come galloping out of the underbrush to trample, bite and rend us to bits. We would only escape by tossing our school books and papers as a distraction and run screaming for a large cedar stump to climb to get out of Pokey's reach. After a hour or so our Mother would come looking for us. At which time the pony would disappear and we would get yelled at for staying outside to play when chores were needed done. When my mom was around that pony never misbehaved. Pure evil!

So I would never rope a deer after reading that cautionary tale. Thanks for the warning.

[JasonsLan]

Originally Posted by MattB4

Thanks for the Holiday story. I have no problem in believing it. The only part that smacks of made up is referring to horses and cows as being relatively harmless. I am here to tell you that horses are the most evil critter there is.

I'm not saying horses in general are not evil, but I've got my small herd, and all are nothing more than big puppy dogs that will do anything to please you.
Though if you try to squeeze them in a 2 horse straight load trailer, the story can change in a heart beat for a couple of them. (you get to see how dumb a horse can really be) And they've got squeeze shoots for cows for a reason. (you don't want to try to hold a cow still like you would a horse to be shod)

[datrep]

I am jealous. Here I sit in a tree for hours on end hoping to see one of those things. And you have them basically jumping into your lap saying, hey, I'm waiting to be skinned and quartered.

I can come handle that problem for you.

[amazonbob.com]

You ask, what to do with backyard pests? I say have them for dinner! They go well with garden veggies.

Seriously, I've heard that stringing up several strands of nylon mono-filament fishing line works to keep them out. Supposedly freaks them out when they get resistance from something they can't see.

[Deadstream]

maybe a paintball gun? a direct hit in the tail should get the message across and depending on the color you'll be able to identify repeat offenders!

[fixesstuff]

Originally Posted by MattB4

Just glanced out the glass door and seen these garden wreckers. (see photo) I did the usual yelling and made threats of calling law enforcement. But other than a twitched ear, tails and a few snorts they ignored me and continued to browse the back lawn.

I am afraid to go too much further because they might be armed. I have seen the statistics of how many people lose their lives to these raiders each year and it is enough to make a person cautious. What should I do?

Around here, we eat em...think of it as a autoship grocery program from mother nature. If you need permits then get em if it make ya feel better. The less you spend on meat the more you have to prep??? Works for me!!